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Al-Qaeda leaders held

SEVERAL senior Al-Qaeda figures, including one of Osama Bin Laden’s sons and his official spokesman, were reported yesterday to be among members of the terror network being held in Iran.

Iranian authorities are believed to have arrested a group of Al-Qaeda members at the end of May, but have so far refused to identify them or confirm how many are being held.

Diplomatic sources in Tehran say the government has been locked in complex talks with Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia over the return of the detainees to their home countries.

Saudi sources suggest even these negotiations are cloaked in secrecy. “Until now, we have not received from the brothers in Iran (any information) about how many are being held. But contacts are under way and we have felt a good response from them,” Prince Nayef bin Abdul Aziz, the interior minister, said last week.